The Lord of Chalma

Since the XVIth- century, one of the most venerated images in México has been that of The Lord of Chalma. Since pre-Hispanic times, in a cave in the selfsame village of Chalma, an idol of the god, Tezcatlipoca, which the Augustinian monks later replaced with an image of Christ crucified, had been worshipped. Traditionally the Lord of Chalma is invoked i in the most desperate cases, when visits to other sanctuaries have failed to produce results. The pilgrimage to visit this lord, instituted in the XVIth century, starts out from many places, some as far away as New México. Once they reach the sanctuary, the faithful devote themselves not only to praying, but also to dancing with crowns of flowers on their heads, which is considered the best offering to make. This piece shows how far back the worship of the Lord of Chalma goes, dating from the XVIIIth century. It is a "true portrait" of the original image, commissioned so that the congregation of a church far from the Chalma sanctuary could enjoy the latter’s benefits. As in other cases, the sculpture is depicted inside its niche, wearing clothing that is more theatrical than practical, as is commonly the case with objects of veneration, which does not prevent the figure from assuming the kind of almost human look that endeavors to move the faithful. As if to leave no doubt about the authenticity of this "portrait", the flower-filled vases at the feet of the figure have been painted in. These items, of Oriental origin, hold floral arrangements made of cloth or paper, a typical form of monastic handicraft. This work passed to the MUNAL from the San Diego Viceregal Painting Gallery in the year 2000.